dayne.grant.1's Product Reviews

The Good: Plush and fluid all the way through its travel. Zero catch when suspension is first activated. The mid stroke doesn't blow through its travel. This also enhanced its pedalling abilities. I had the elka stage five before, but it would stick when first engaging and it blew through the travel too easily for my liking. The Vector fixed all the dislikes I had with my previous shocks. The bottom out is controlled, giving it a bottomless feeling. The adjustments do what with are designed for.

The Bad: Depending on your preferences in riding there could be one thing that you might not like- or you may like it if it suits your riding style. The last part of the rebound before it returnes to length slows down. It doesn't give you a pop off the lip of a jump. But at the same time it won't buck you if you come off a lip off balance. I think this charactistic adds to the constant fliud feel. Going fast through big rocks I think it gives smoother control. Adjusting the rebound changes it but doesn't make it go completely away.

Overall:

This shock does what it was designed for. I think it works as well as the best rear shocks out there and better in some ways. I am very impressed so far. The lower cost in this case dosen't mean less.

The Good: Pedaling is excellant. Geometry is spot on for the entire spectrum. Due to the locking rear suspension in climbs far better than any xc, all-mountain, enduro, or FR bike I've been on. Supple, plush, and fluid suspension descends as good as the best DH bikes out there. It is as smooth as the specialized demo 8. (The only DH bike that I've tried with superior feeling suspension is the Canfield Jedi). Stable in the air. Built like a tank, it is very stiff. Corners like mad. Customer service is top notch.

The Bad: If you are buying this bike with the intention of doing everything from DH to XC IMO it only comes up short in one area. Because it is heavier than your xc specific bikes it isn't ideal for a long constant uphill ride. After 10+ miles of uphill you will be more tired than your 20lb bikes. With that in mind though it is far better for technical, steep, rocky climbs. It pedals anywhere. I have never ridden a bike that has outclimbed it. Other riders will wonder how out of shape they are when they see a dual crown bike pass them on up hill climbs.

Overall:

I feel like Canfield has made a bike that is as good as the best, then given it something special (locking suspension) that puts it above and beyond the rest. For those who have always been unsure of buying a more DH oriented bike let your worries go. I always thought I would be sacrificing something I loved by not being able to climb and ride some of the things I used to ride by getting a bike with so much suspension. I couldn't have been more wrong. Everything I loved was enhanced. I gained more than I thought in every aspect of riding. I hardly dare ride the bikes I used to ride because they feel so akward and lacking. All the years I wasted by listening to what other people assumed about bigger travel bikes is maddening. This bike really is that good.

The Good: Where to begin. Plush and fliud; this bike gives crazy contol and is completely stable at the fastest speeds. With a 10 speed drive train you'll surprise the XC and All-mountain bikers when you pass them on the steep climbs. Braking is different feeling than other bikes, it is very smooth you don't feel the rocks or chatter when you are braking over rocks. The bike tends to sits back when braking. For big drops it is hard to tell when you left the ground and when you landed. Besides the bottomless suspension(I still haven't felt like I've hit the end of its travel) the initial impact that is transfered into your legs almost completely disappears. Perect therapy for those with bad knees. On top of it all, it is awesome looking.

The Bad: I'm trying to be objective and find weakness in how it rides, but so far with everything I've given it, it keeps screaming for more. It does exactly what it was designed to do. It would not be ideal for riding long uphill trails. Even though it climbs really steep technical stuff like a billy goat.

Overall:

First off I am not a professional rider nor claim to be.I know each rider has somthing different he likes, so with that in mind if you are looking for rock gobbling, fluid, crazy control that can take the steepest rocky downhills as well as climb and pedal then you are looking for what I seach for. This bike feels far better than any bike I've been on and I've tried most of them. It is kind of unreal. I attribute that partly to the rearward travel. Half of the riding I do is DH and the other half is on technical, steep, and flat trails and it handles them better than my all-mountain bike used to. My expectations were high and this bike continues to exceeded them all. Canfield is also an amazing company to work with.